Lid-holder and indicator.



A. L, BUZZE'LL. LID HOLDER AND INDICATOR APPLICATION FILED 00T. 14, 1908.

917,245., I Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

UNTED STATES PATENT tiltfiblitlil ARTHUR L. BUZZ/ELL, OF WABASHA, MINNESOTA.

LID-HOLDER AND INDICATOR.

Application led. October 14, 1908.

To alt whom tt may conce/rfc.'

Be it known that I, Aar-nun Lesmo BUZ- ZELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at lrv'abasha, in the count)T of l/v'abasha and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Lid-Holders and Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a novel device combining means for holding the lid or cover of a box open and adapted at the same time to indicate the number of articles to be taken from the box at each removal, said device being of such construction as to be automaticallT operated when handling the box, the relative movement between the box and its lid or cover serving to actuate the indicating means.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means` for eiiecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing it applied to a box. YEig. 2 is a perspective view of the device, the cap plate and dial being removed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 1, and l? ig. is a section on the line Y-i' of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The device comprises a supporting frame and an indicating mechanism. The sup porting frame consists of a bar 1 of substantially U-form in transverse section, so as to embrace the upper edge and opposite sides of a side of the box to which the device is applied. A clip is located at each end of the bar 1 to clamp opposite sides of the wall of the box to secure the frame when in position. The clip at one end of the bar comprises clamp members 2 and 3, the latter being pointed and slightly longer than the clamp member 2 so as to penetrate the fabric forming the hinged connection between the lid or cover of the box and the side of the latter Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 6, 1909.

Serial No. 457,736.

to which said lid is hinged. The clip at the opposite end of the bar comprises clamp members 4 and 5, the clamp member 4t correspending with the clamp member 2 and adapted to engage with the inner face of the side of the box to which the frame is fitted. The clamp member 5 is adapted to engage the outerface of the side of the box adjacent to the corner and is considerably longer than the clamp member 4;. A bar 6 at the outer end of the bar 1 forms a right angle with the clamp member and engages with the end of the box so as to limit the inward movement of the frame. The bar 6 is spaced from the clamp member el. a distance to receive the end of the box, thereby preventing possible endwise movement of the frame when in position. A curved arm 7 extends from the bar 6 and forms a part thereof and its outer portion is reduced, leaving shoulders 8 which limit the movement of the operating arm 9 in one direction. A stop 10 at the outer end of the curved arm 7 limits the movement of the operating arm 9 in the opposite direction and consists of a portion of said arm bent laterally therefrom.

The indicating mechanism consists of a dial 11 and a pointer 12, the latter being stationary, 7chile the dial is mounted for rotation. The dial and a part of the operating mechanism are located ithin the casing which is secured to the bar -l of the clamp frame. rlhe casing consists of a base 13 and a cap ring 14. The base 13 is of circular form and is provided with a rim which receives the cap ring ll. The pointer 12 is preferablT an integral part of the cap ring, the top of the latter' having portions out :may to form the pointer and supporting bars, the openings formed by the cut-awa f portions admitting of the dial 11 being observed. A light spring 15 cooperates with the pointer 12 to designate the number upon the dial, said spring 15 being flat and ate tached to the inner end of a set screw 16 threaded into a boss provided at a side of the cap ring 14. The spring 15 acts as a supplemental pointer and is adapted to engage with points 17 pressed outward from the dial l1. A bridge 18 has its end portions attached to the base 13 and is provided at a central point with pendent and inwardly extended ears forming a bearing in which the inner end of a rock shaft 19 and the spindle 20 of the dial 11 are mounted. The

` rock shaft 19 is mounted near its outer end engagement v. ith the lid or cover of t Vdisplacement ot the aiins and 7.

in the rim of the base 13 and is provided at or near its inner end v. ith a toothed segment 2O uhicl'i is adapted to impart movement to the dial. A spring 22 is connected at one end to the roel; shaft 19 and at its opposite end to a portion ot the casing, said spring being normally under tension and serving to quickly return the roel; shalt to normal position v. hen released after being actuated so as to imparl rotary movement to the dial. A. trip 23 is last to the outer end of the rock shaft 19 and its outer end is beveled and formed v. ith a depression immediately in the rear of the point to insure positive engagement bett. een it and the cooperating yielding trip 241 carried by the operating arm 9. The operating arm 9 is pivote/l to the clamp frame at 25 and is provided at its outer end v ith a clip 26 to malte positive o box. Spaced slits are orined in the operating arm and the portion betr. een said slits is pressed laterally from the arm to forni a keeper to receive the reduced end portion oi the curved arm 7, thereby preventing relative lateral A curved extension 27 projects lroni the operating arm 9 and receives and supports the yielding trip' 2st, the latter consisting ot a Allat spring at one end tast to the operating arin 9 and having its opposite end Vcurved to form a hook liich is adapted to engage `with the outer end of the trip 23. Vif'hen the oper ating arm 9 is moved upf. ard or foward, the hooked end of the yielding trip 2d rides upon the beveled ond ot the trip 23 and alter c caring the same engages with the depression in the upper or lor i ard side el said trip 23. Upon moving the operating arm 9 rearvv ard and douard, movement is iinparted to the roch shalt 19, thereby increasing the tension of the spring 22 and just prior to the operating arm 9 reaching the limit of its ni'ivement, the yielding trip 24 clears the trip and the spring 22 being suddenly released quickly returns the roch f shaft to normal position, and this movement through the instrumentality of the toothed segment 21, imparts a rapid rotary nievenientto the dial 11. The dial 11 is i. eighted so that the force imparted thereto 1.. ill result in the dial rotating a number oi times. A ring 28 formed i. ith or applied to the dial 11, provides the necessary mass or eight to insure the dial making a number of revolutions. A pinion 29 is provided upon the rear side of the dial and is adapted to mesh with the teeth' ot the segment 21. The spindle 2O is mounted in the bridge 18 and rests upon a step 30 forming a part el the frame provided at the center ot said bridge. A set screw 31 is threaded into the central portion oi the cap ring and its inner end terminates in a point thich bears against the center of the dial or the outer end of the spindle 20 so as to prevent play ol the dial in the casing and to insure engagement of the teetholthe parts 21 and 29. A series ol points 17 are pressed outta ard from the dial near its outer edge and serve to separate the numbers or other indicia provided for designating the number of articles to be removed from the box. Should the box contain a miscellaneous collection of articles, each may be numbered to corresoond -with a number .Y

on the dial, the latter alter beingspun determining ..hich article is to be delivered. ll' the articles are ol like nature, `rthe dial may be provided `with a series oi' like num bers and other interspersed higher numbers so that it may be determined whether one or more articles are to be delivered.

ln the practical application ol the invention, the clamp traine is litted to a box 32 and the operating arm 9 is itted to the lid or cover of said box. `ifi/'lien placing the clamp traine in position it is arranged with the bai' o against the end oi the box and with the bar 1 above the rear side so that the clip inembei-s are in position to embrace opposite faces ot the rear side of the box when the clamp frame is pressed downward. After the clamp trarne has been properly vposi tiene downward pressure upon the bar 1 causes the pointed clamp member 3 to penetrate the llexible hinge between the head and box, the pressure being continued until the bar 1 rests upon and embraces the top edge portion of the rear side of the box. The operating arm 9 is now adjusted to cause the ciip 26 at its outer end to embrace opposite sides ot the lid or cover 33.

llhen the device is inposition, the cover ot the box is held open and the indicator inclines to the plane of the box in convenient position to be read. ".fvlien grasping the lid or cover 33 to removethe box from a case, shelf or other place, said lid nioves upward, carrying the operating arm 9 with it and causing the trip 24 to nieve upward and foi? ward in position to engage with` the trip 23. ifi/'hen the box is lifted by continued application oi force to the lid or cover 33, the

weight of the contents causes it to tilt'forf ward with the rcs-ult that the rear portion of the box moving upward and forward carries the indicator away from the operating arm, tnereby causing the rock shaft to be moved rearward so as to place the spring 22 under tension, and the instant the trip 24 clears the trip 23, the rock shalt is thrown forward and imparts a rapid rotary movement to the dial by the action ol the toothed segment `21 meshing with the pinion 29. When the dial comes to rest, the number or character 0pposite the pointer indicatesy the nature or character of the delivery to be made.

The foregoing description of the operation assumes that the cover of the box occupies such a position that the trips 2,3 Vand 241 are separated as indicated in Fig. 1. However, the box when placed upon the shelf or in a case may have its cover at such a slant or angle that the trips 23 and 24 are in engagement, hence when removing the box from its resting place by grasping the cover 32 the weight of the box Will cause the latter to drop and the trip 23 to ride from under the trip 24 in the manner Jherein described, thelreby imparting rotary movement to the dia It is to be understood that the device is chiefly intended to hold the cover of the box at a desired angle or slant so as to display the label or other matter to the best possible advantage.

Having thus described the invention, what y is claimed as new is:

an o perating` arm connected v ith said frame and fitted to the lid or cover of the box to g normally hold the same open and adapted to g be actuated by movement of said lid to elf'ect operation of the indicator.

3. In a device of the character specified,

the combination of' a frame adapted to be Fitted to a box and provided with an indicator, an arm pivoted to said frame and adapted to make connection with the lid or cover of the box to be operated thereby, and cooperating means between said operating arm and indicator for actuating the latter by movement imparted to the lid or cover' of the box.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame adapted to be fitted to a box and provided with an indicator, an arm pivoted to said frame, interlocking means between said arm and frame to prevent displacement of said arm and to direct the same in its movements, said arm being provided with means for making connection with the lid or cover of the box, and

l l l l 1 l l l i l l cooperating means between said arm or indicator for actuating the latter when imparting movement to the lid or cover of the box.

5. in a device of the character specified, the combination of a frame adapted to be fitted to a box and provided with an indicator, an arm pivoted to said frame and provided with means for making connection with the lid or cover of the box, interlocking means between said arm and frame to direct the arm in its movements, stops provided upon the frame to limit the movements of said arm, and cooperating means between the said arm and indicator for actuating the latter by movement of.' the lid or cover of the box.

6. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a clamp frame adapted to be fitted to the box and provided with a curved arm having a reduced portion provided at opposite ends with stops, said frame being provided with an indicator, an operating arm pivoted to said frame and having a portion embracing the reduced part of said curved arm and arranged to operate between the stops thereof, said operating arm being supplied with means for making connection with the lid or cover of the box, and cooperating means between the operating arm and indicator for actuating the latter by movement of the lid or cover of the box.

7. In a device of the character specified,

the combination of a clamp frame adapted to be fitted to a box and provided with a curved arm, an indicator carried by said clamp frame and comprising a rock shaft having a trip, an arm pivoted to said frame and adapted to be attached to the lid or cover of the box and having portions en gaging with said curved arm to form guide means for directing the arm in its pivotal movements, and a cooperating yielding trip carried by the operating arm to engage with the trip of the rock shaft for actuating the indicator by movement imparted to the lid or cover of the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR L. BUZZELL. Witnesses:

THoMAs IRWIN, HARRY SCHOLTES. 

